Opill

Opill was acquired by Perrigo during their acquisition of HRA Pharma, along with ellaOne and Hana, other over-the-counter emergency contraceptives.{{Cite web |title=Perrigo to Acquire Leading Consumer Self-Care Company, HRA Pharma |url=https://investor.perrigo.com/2021-09-08-Perrigo-to-Acquire-Leading-Consumer-Self-Care-Company,-HRA-Pharma |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=Perrigo InvestorRoom |language=en}}

Opill was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for over-the-counter use on July 13, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Commissioner |first=Office of the |date=2024-08-09 |title=FDA Approves First Nonprescription Daily Oral Contraceptive |url=https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-nonprescription-daily-oral-contraceptive |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=FDA |language=en}} This approval was given to its manufacturer a year after their initial application for the prescription to over-the-counter switch.{{Cite web |title=Perrigo's HRA Pharma Submits Application to FDA for First-Ever OTC Birth Control Pill - Drugs.com MedNews |url=https://www.drugs.com/clinical_trials/perrigo-s-hra-pharma-submits-application-fda-first-ever-otc-birth-control-pill-20726.html |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=Drugs.com |language=en}} This came a year after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which heavily restricted or criminalized abortion in 24 states.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-09 |title=Six Months Post-Roe, 24 US States Have Banned Abortion or Are Likely to Do So: A Roundup {{!}} Guttmacher Institute |url=https://www.guttmacher.org/2023/01/six-months-post-roe-24-us-states-have-banned-abortion-or-are-likely-do-so-roundup |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=www.guttmacher.org |language=en}}

Opill began sale at major retailers in the U.S., including CVS, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart in March 2024. It is also available online from the Opill website and Amazon.{{Cite web |last=Lupkin |first=Sidney |date=2024-03-04 |title=First over-the-counter birth control pill now for sale online |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/03/04/1235404522/opill-over-counter-birth-control-pill-contraceptive-shop |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=NPR}}

Opill is a progestin-only daily birth control pill, also known as a “mini pill,” available over-the-counter without the need for health insurance.{{Cite journal |last=Research |first=Center for Drug Evaluation and |date=2024-07-12 |title=Opill (0.075mg Oral Norgestrel Tablet) Information |url=https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/opill-0075mg-oral-norgestrel-tablet-information#:~:text=On%20July%2013,%202023,%20the,Opill%20does%20not%20contain%20estrogen |journal=FDA |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Five Things to Know About Opill, the First FDA-Approved Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill |url=https://nyulangone.org/news/five-things-know-about-opill-first-fda-approved-over-counter-birth-control-pill |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=NYU Langone News |language=en}} It has no age restrictions and is safe to use as long as menstruation has started. The pill should be taken orally at the same time each day for optimal effectiveness; it is 98% effective when taken correctly and 91% effective with typical use.{{Cite web |title=What you need to know about Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control {{!}} OHSU |url=https://www.ohsu.edu/womens-health/what-you-need-know-about-opill-first-over-counter-birth-control#:~:text=Opill%20is%20a%20progestin-only,the%20risk%20of%20getting%20pregnant |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=www.ohsu.edu}} Opill begins working 48 hours after the first dose.{{Cite web |title=About Opill {{!}} The First Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill |url=https://opill.com/pages/about-opill |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Opill |language=en}}

Opill is intended solely as a contraceptive and does not function as emergency contraception, provide protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or act as an abortion medication. Common side effects include irregular vaginal bleeding, headaches, dizziness, nausea, increased appetite, abdominal pain, bloating, and cramping.

Opill can be purchased online through the company’s website or found in the family planning aisles of most drug stores, convenience stores, and grocery stores. Opill's presence in the family planning aisle could help reduce the U.S.' unplanned pregnancy rate of 41.6% as of 2019.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-13 |title=Opill: The First Over-the-Counter Daily Oral Contraceptive {{!}} Johns Hopkins {{!}} Bloomberg School of Public Health |url=https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2023/opill-the-first-over-the-counter-daily-oral-contraceptive |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=publichealth.jhu.edu |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=CDC |date=2024-05-20 |title=Unintended Pregnancy |url=https://www.cdc.gov/reproductive-health/hcp/unintended-pregnancy/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/contraception/unintendedpregnancy/index.htm |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=Reproductive Health |language=en-us}}

Opill used several surveys to check that consumers could follow the instructions on dosing and understand the package labels.{{cite web |title=Our Story |url=https://opill.com/pages/our-story |website=Opill}} The colors of the packaging are designed to avoid gender-based stereotypes. The colors are mainly teal with accents of blue, purple, and pink.

Opill ran an advertising campaign using Snapchat to market the product to Generation Z.{{cite web |title=How Opill Made Birth Control More Accessible With Snapchat Ads |url=https://forbusiness.snapchat.com/inspiration/opill-success-story?lang=en-US#:~:text=Spreading%20Awareness%20to%20Gen%20Z,pill%20that%20requires%20no%20prescription |website=Snapchat Business}}

In April 2024, Perrigo partnered with The Women's National Basketball Association. Colie Edison, Chief Growth Officer for the WNBA, said that the WNBA is dedicated to addressing issues important to the organization such as reproductive health.{{cite web |title=Opill and WNBA Team Up for Groundbreaking Partnership |url=https://opill.com/blogs/blog/opill-and-wnba-team-up-for-groundbreaking-partnership |website=Opill}}

Norgestrel is a progestin used in birth control pills, such as the Opill, which contains a synthetic version of the naturally occurring hormone progesterone.{{Cite journal |date=August 1995 |title=Editorial |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0029-7844(95)00162-k |journal=Obstetrics & Gynecology |volume=86 |issue=2 |pages=293 |doi=10.1016/0029-7844(95)00162-k |pmid=7617364 |issn=0029-7844 |last1=Pitkin |first1=R. M. }} The Opill contains 0.075mg of the active ingredient norgestrel, along with inactive ingredients including cellulose, FD&C Yellow 5, lactose, magnesium stearate, and polacrilin potassium.“Opill Tablets.” FDA Data Access, FDA, www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/017031s035s036lbl.pdf. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.

The Opill primarily works by thickening the cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to reach the egg.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-28 |title=What You Need to Know About Opill, the First FDA-Approved Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill {{!}} University of Utah Health |url=https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/health-library/all/2023/07/what-you-need-know-about-opill-first-fda-approved-over-counter#:~:text=The%20Opill%20or%20the%20minipill%20or%20the,ovulation%20in%20about%20a%20third%20of%20patients |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=healthcare.utah.edu |language=en}} It can also prevent the release of eggs from the ovaries during some menstrual cycles and thins the uterine lining, creating a less hospitable environment for a fertilized egg to implant.

Progesterone plays a crucial role in preventing pregnancy by stopping ovulation. It works by inhibiting the development of ovarian follicles, preventing the release of an egg. This process is regulated by negative feedback on the hypothalamus, reducing the secretion of hormones like follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Without follicle development, estradiol levels remain low and the LH surge necessary for ovulation is blocked, effectively preventing ovulation.{{Citation |last1=Cooper |first1=Danielle B. |title=Oral Contraceptive Pills |date=2024-02-29 |work=StatPearls [Internet] |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430882/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |language=en |pmid=28613632 |last2=Patel |first2=Preeti}}

Opill is currently available in all states in the U.S. after it was approved by the FDA on July 13, 2023. The active ingredient in Opill, Norgestrel, was legalized for prescription use in 1973. However, it was discontinued by the manufacturer in 2005. Opill is available in major retailers like Walmart, Target, CVS, and Walgreens. In stores, a one month supply is sold for $19.99, and a three month supply is sold for 49.99.{{Cite news |date=2024-03-05 |title=Opill, first U.S. over-the-counter birth-control pill, to hit stores: What to know |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/03/05/opill-birth-control-pill-over-the-counter/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en}} Perrigo also offers a "Cost Assistance Reduction" program for those that are eligible.

Currently, there are no legal restrictions placed on the Opill, however, that could change as it did with the oral abortion pill Mifepristone.

World wide, over-the-counter birth control is legal in most of Africa, South America, and Asia. However, in most of Europe it still requires a prescription.{{Cite web |title=OTC Access World Map |url=https://freethepill.org/otc-access-world-map |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Free The Pill |language=en-US}}

Category:Birth control